A good crop year – as evidenced by the record U.S. corn crop last year – “gets farmers charged up and excited to produce another good crop,� said Dexter, Mo., farmer Jim Stuever in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Prospective Plantings report released March 31.

In that report, USDA said U.S. corn farmers intend plant 88.8 million acres, which is up 3 percent from last year’s 86.5 million acres. It’s also about 3 percent more than 2008’s plantings of 86.0 million acres. 

If realized, the plantings figure would be the largest since 2007 when 93.5 million acres were planted – and that was the most since the 1940s. USDA’s estimates are based on a survey of farmers conducted in early March.

“There is an optimistic feel heading into planting,� Stuever said. “Corn market prices are stable and within reason, crop input prices are acceptable and farmers see more of an opportunity to produce a corn crop that yields well. Farmers see a good future in corn.�

Stuever, a board member of the Missouri Corn Growers Association and U.S. Grains Council delegate, said with last year’s record production of 13.1 billion bushels, which will leave a 1.8 billion bushel carryout at the end of this marketing year, should ease any concern about the U.S. corn supply.

“Even though corn demand has been positive, including by the domestic ethanol and feed sectors, as well as exports, a lot of corn remains in the countryside,� he said.

In fact, USDA’s March 31 Grain Stocks report noted that 7.7 billion bushels of corn were in storage across the United States as of March 1. That’s an increase of 11 percent over last year.

While weather can influence final planting numbers – USDA will provide figures on actual plantings June 30 – the general trend is for farmers to match or exceed USDA intentions when it comes to planting corn.